Qualia Focus vs Qualia Mind

Neurohacker has carved a niche for itself as the go-to manufacturer of premium nootropic stacks. The company came to the limelight with the original Qualia formula which despite being highly successful was accused by some pundits of being too pricey and lacking an entry-level package.

To this end, it seems that the good guys at Neurohacker decided to go back to the drawing board and in so doing came up with two different, highly refined formulas one called Qualia Focus and the other one Qualia Mind.

Since these two products come from the same manufacturer, it’s natural to want to get a better perspective of the Qualia Focus vs Qualia Mind comparison. Which one of the two is better? What sets the two products apart? Well, that forms the subject of this write-up so stick around to find out who takes a commanding lead in this sibling rivalry and why.

Qualia Focus vs Qualia Mind Duel: Background

Both products bring together a number of natural ingredients these mainly being multivitamins and nootropics. A closer look at their lists of ingredients confirms that they share 24 ingredients in common. Yup, you read that right! So, as you can imagine, despite the alteration of the original Qualia formula, the two current products still come with a rather long list of ingredients.

The good thing is that all these ingredients are 100% natural. Plus they are third-party tested for identity, quality and toxins and, therefore, your chances of developing any dangerous side effects from using them are very slim.

The list of ingredients they share in common is as follows:

• Vitamins B6, B12, D3, and C
• Pantothenic Acid
• Niacin
• Bacopa monnieri
• Artichoke leaf extract
• Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline
• DL-Phenylalanine
• N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCI
• Uridine-5’-Monophosphate Disodium
• L-Theanine
• Taurine
• Rhodiola Rosea Root
• Benfotiamine
• Organic Coffeeberry (90mg caffeine)
• Theobromine
• Mucuna Pruriens Seed
• Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
• Celastrus Paniculatus Seed Extract
• Coleus Forskohlii Root
• Huperzia Serrata Leaf Extract

The Differences

At first sight, these two might seem almost similar. But if you take a loupe and go through their list of ingredients, you’ll notice some glaring differences. Here are some of those key differences.

4 Extra Ingredients for Mind

Focus is entirely made up of these 24 ingredients but Mind has 4 more ingredients (bringing its total list of ingredients to 28). The 4 are Cognizine (Citicoline), Phosphatidylserine, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ).

• Cognizine (Citicoline)

You’ll find 150mg of this particular ingredient in the Qualia Mind formulation. Basically, Citicoline is a chemical that’s naturally found in the brain although its quantities tend to reduce over time thereby necessitating replenishment.

The main role of Citicoline in the brain is to boost the production of phosphatidylcholine which plays a central role in the production of brain energy. Besides that, phosphatidylcholine fast-tracks the repair of brain tissue in case of brain injury.

• Phosphatidylserine (PS)

A generous 100mg of PS is included in this formula. That’s the maximum recommended quantity of PS that one should take in a day.

But why PS? Phosphatidylserine is a brain chemical that is involved in multiple functions in the brain. Key among them is the improvement of mental function by slowing down cognitive decline. Indeed, this particular ingredient plays a clear role in the maintenance of optimal cellular function in the brain.

• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

Just like PS, you need 100mg of DHA per day for your brain to function optimally. However, the awesome guys in the Neurohacker team provide 80mg of it per serving of Qualia Mind. That’s 20mg shy of the maximum recommended dosage – not too bad.

DHA is a well-known supplement and is reputed for its role in brain development. It’s no wonder it’s abundant in baby formula milk.

The idea behind its inclusion in this particular product is that it supports the development of nerve tissues. As such, its long-term use can improve your mental sharpness and help you become a faster and more confident decision-maker.

• Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ)

The recommended dosage of PQQ is weight-dependent i.e. 0.2mg PQQ/kg. So, if you weigh 100kg (220 pounds) then you’d need to take 20mg of it. That said, only 10mg of it is included in this formula probably as a safe level for everyone regardless of their body weight.

PQQ is an extremely important supplement for boosting brain energy. It does this by influencing your mitochondria. And, therefore, unlike caffeine which promotes wakefulness by influencing the level of activity at the CNS level, PQQ achieves the same objective but at the cellular level. As such, its effects, though not subtle, are quite long-lasting.

More Potency for Mind

Worth noting is that even though the two share the 24 ingredients, the potency and amounts per serving for each ingredient differ sharply.

• Rhodiola Rosea

Focus contains 150mg of Rhodiola Rosea per serving compared to Mind's 300mg. The main role of this root extract is to improve your ability to cope with stress and stressful situations. Therefore, with the latter, you get more stress fighting power than with the latter.

• Acetyl-L-Carnitine

This is an amino acid that’s mainly involved in the production of energy in the body thanks to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and the involvement in the production of acetylcholine. It’s also a powerful antioxidant.

With that in mind, you get 150mg of it in the Focus formula and 300mg of it in the Mind formula.

• Artichoke Stem & Leaf Extract

You can’t go wrong with artichokes! They are packed with important nutrients which make them best placed for stabilizing blood sugar and improving digestion. A good digestive and gut health is important for healthy body function. If you opt for the Mind Formula, you’ll get 500mg of it as opposed to the 300mg you’d find in Focus.

• Uridine-5’-Monophosphate Disodium

The 250mg of Uridine-5’-Monophosphate found in Qualia Mind is the optimal one recommended (you only get 200mg of it in the Focus formula). Uridine is a key component of the RNA which is part and parcel of the nervous system functions. Combined with choline and DHA, Uridine does a fantastic job of promoting cognitive performance in the long-run.

Worth noting, however, is that Uridine is believed to worsen the symptoms of heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. So, if you have been diagnosed with any one of those or think that you might be suffering from any one of them, it’s advisable to proceed with caution when sampling out the Mind Formula from Neurohacker.

• Taurine

The key reason why Taurine is commonly found in most energy drinks is that it plays a major role in reducing brain fog. Besides that, it creates new brain cells and is believed to reactivate “sleeping” stem cells. On top of that, it enhances the survival of new neurons.

The optimal recommended dosage of 2000 mg. However, you only get 200mg in these two formulations from Neurohacker. That’s 10% of the optimal dosage which is quite low in potency in our view. It’s a flop for both products.

• Alpha GPC

Whatever Qualia Focus lacks owing to the fact that it doesn’t contain Citicoline is made up for by the inclusion of 100mg extra Alpha GPC in its formula. You get 300mg of it in Focus and 200mg in Mind. Alpha GPC is a highly reliable source of choline owing to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. It is probably the most effective way to boost brain energy and focus.

Effects

The Mind formula loads up more on the ingredients that are involved in the growth of a stronger nervous system and mitochondria. Besides that, it contains Citicoline which is a highly placed source of brain energy. It also combines that with Uridine and DHA thereby creating an unbeatable formula for:

• Eliminating brain fog
• Fueling focus and concentration
• Boosting brain nutrition
• Upgrading energy
• Promoting mental clarity

Qualia Focus is a cheaper and less potent formulation compared to the Mind blend. But considering its quality of ingredients, it performs way better than some of the popular premium stacks out there in the markets.

The fact that it contains lots of Alpha GPC means that it’s a reliable source of acetylcholine which directly affects brain energy. Some of the key effects associated with this product include:

• Enhanced cerebral blood flow
• Better metabolic support
• Stronger cell structures
• Enhanced neuroplasticity
• Neuron & synapse development

As you can see, these two formulations perform almost similar functions only that Qualia Mind is the stronger and more sophisticated one.

Pricing

A bottle of the Focus formulation containing 100 capsules costs $69. On the other hand, a similar jar of the Mind formula contains 154 capsules going for $139. When you opt for the Focus formula, you’ll be paying for $3.45 per serving but when you opt for the Mind formula the cost will rise to $6.3 per serving.

So, yes, Qualia Mind is quite expensive. To some extent, we think it’s overpriced. But considering its extra ingredients, it still makes sense to fork out the extra bucks if you can afford it.

Who Takes What?

The Focus blend is popular among the new age-y, beginner and intermediate nootropic users while the Mind blend resonates with advanced biohackers looking for something really really dope!